HOLY AND GREAT TUESDAY
AT VESPERS (PRESANCTIFIED)
(SUNG ON HOLY TUESDAY MORNING)
DEACON:Master, give the blessing.
The Priest making with the Gospel book the sign of the Cross over the antiminsion shall say:
Blessed is the kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end.
READER:Amen.
O come, let us worship and bow down before our King and our God.
O come, let us worship and bow down before Christ our King and our God.
O come, let us worship and bow down before the very Christ our King and our God.
THE INTRODUCTORY PSALM 103 [104]
Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, Thou art become exceedingmagnified: Thou hast put on praise and majesty: Who coverest Thyselfwith light as with a garment: Who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: Who supporteth his upper chambers in the waters: Whoappointeth the clouds for His ascent: Who walketh upon the wings of the wind. Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire.Who hath established the earth upon its sure foundation; it shall not be moved for ever and ever. The deep like a garment is His mantle; thewaters shall stand upon the mountains. At Thy rebuke they shall flee; atthe voice of Thy thunder they shall be afraid. The mountains rise up,and the plains go down, unto the place which Thou hast founded for them. Thou hast set a bound that they shall not pass over, neither turn again to cover the earth. He sendeth the springs into the valleys; thewaters shall run among the mountains. They shall give drink to everybeast of the field; the wild asses shall wait to quench their thirst. Bythem shall the fowls of the air make their habitation; they shall give voice from the midst of the rocks. He watereth the mountains from Hischambers; the earth shall be satisfied with the fruit of Thy works. Hecauseth the grass to grow for the cattle, and green herb for the service of men. That he may bring forth bread out of the earth: and wine maketh glad the heart of man. To make his face cheerful with oil: and bread strengtheneth man's heart. The trees of the plain shall be satisfied, thecedars of Lebanon which Thou hast planted. There shall the sparrowsmake their nests; the house of the heron is chief among them. The highmountains are a refuge for the harts, so also is the rock for the hares.He hath made the moon for seasons; the sun knoweth his going down.Thou appointedst darkness, and there was night, wherein all the beastsof the forest shall go abroad. Young lions roaring after their prey, andseeking their eat from God. The sun arose, and they were gatheredtogether, and they shall lay them down in their dens. But man shall goforth unto his work, and to his labour until the evening. O Lord, howmagnified are Thy works! in wisdom hast Thou made all things; the earthis filled with Thy creation. So is this great and wide sea also, whereinare things creeping innumerable, creatures small and great. There gothe ships, there this dragon, whom Thou hast made to play therein. Allthings look unto Thee, that Thou mayest give them their meat in due season. When Thou givest it them, they shall gather it; when Thouopenest thine hand, all things shall be filled with good. When Thouturnest away Thy face, they shall be troubled; Thou shalt take away theirbreath, and they shall fail, and return to their dust. Thou shalt sendforth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created; and Thou shalt renew the face of the earth. Let the glory of the Lord endure for ever; the Lord shall rejoice in His works. He looketh upon the earth, and maketh it tremble;He toucheth the mountains, and they smoke. I will sing unto the Lordas long as I live, I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. Letmy words be pleasing unto Him; and I will be glad in the Lord. O thatsinners might be consumed out of the earth, and the workers of iniquity,that they be no more. Bless thou the Lord, O my soul.
The sun knoweth his going down.Thou appointedst darkness, and there was night.
O Lord, howmagnified are Thy works! in wisdom hast Thou made all things.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. Amen.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Glory be to Thee, O God. [3]
Our hope, glory be to Thee, O Lord.
After the introductory psalm, the Priest [or Deacon] shall say the Great litany.
In peace let us pray unto the Lord.
CHOIR: Kyrie eleisonorLord have mercy. And after each petition.
For the peace from on high, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray unto the Lord.
For the peace and union of the whole world, and for the good estate of the holy churches of God, let us pray unto the Lord.
For this holy temple and for them that enter therein with faith, reverence and fear of God, let us pray unto the Lord.
For our Archbishop [Name], for the honourable order of priesthood, and for the diaconate which is in Christ, for all the clergy and the people, let us pray unto the Lord.
For this city [village, monastery]; for every city and land, and for them that dwell therein with faith, let us pray unto the Lord.
For fair seasons and the abundance of the fruits of the earth, let us pray unto the Lord.
For them that travel by land, by water, by air; for the sick and the suffering, for those in captivity, And for their salvation, let us pray unto the Lord.
That we may be deliver from all tribulation, wrath, danger and necessity, let us pray unto the Lord.
Succour, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Thy grace.
Mindful of our most holy and undefiled, most blessed and glorious Lady, Mother of God and ever-Virgin Mary, and of all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God.
CHOIR:To Thee, O Lord.
For unto Thee belong all glory, honour and worship, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end.
CHOIR:Amen.
And the Reader shall read the first stasis of the 18 Kathisma of the Psalter. Psalms 119-123 [120-124]
PSALM 119 [120]
In mine affliction I cried unto the Lord; and He heard me. Deliver mysoul, O Lord, from unjust lips, and from a deceitful tongue. What shallbe given unto thee, or what shall be added unto thee, for a deceitful tongue? Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of the desert. Woe isme, that my sojourn is prolonged; I have dwelt with the tents of Kedar;my soul hath long been a sojourner. With them that hated peace I waspeaceable; when I spake to them, they made war against me without acause.
PSALM 120[121]
I lifted up mine eyes unto the mountains, from whence cometh my help.My help cometh from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Let notthy foot be moved, and let not thy keeper slumber. Behold, He thatkeepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord shall keepthee; the Lord is thy shelter upon thy right hand. The sun shall notburn thee by day, neither the moon by night. The Lord shall preservethee from all evil; the Lord shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shallpreserve thy coming in and thy going out, from this time forth, and evenfor evermore.
PSALM 121 [122]
I was glad because of them that said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord. Our feet have stood within thy courts, O Jerusalem.Jerusalem is builded as a city whose fellowship is complete. Forthither the tribes went up, the tribes of the Lord, a testimony for Israel,to give thanks unto the name of the Lord. For there are set thrones forjudgment, the thrones of the house of David. Ask now for the thingswhich are for the peace of Jerusalem, and for the prosperity of them that love thee. Let peace be with thy strength, and prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I spake peace concerning thee. Because of the house of the Lord our God, I havesought thy good.
PSALM122 [123]
Unto Thee have I lifted up mine eyes, O Thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of theirmasters, as the eyes of a handmaid look unto the hands of her mistress,so our eyes look unto the Lord our God, until that He have mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us, for we are utterly filled with abasement. Our soul hath been exceedingly filled withit; let reproach come upon those that prosper, and abasement upon theproud.
PSALM 123 [124]
If it had not been that the Lord was with us, now may Israel say; if ithad not been that the Lord was with us, when men rose up against us;then they had swallowed us up alive, when their wrath was kindled against us: then the waters had overwhelmed us. Our soul had passed through the torrent; then had our soul passed through the overwhelming water. Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. Our soul hath been delivered, as a sparrow out ofthe snare of the hunters: the snare is broken, and we are delivered. Ourhelp is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
When the reader hath finished the first stasis of the Kathisma he shall say Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Now and for ever and for ever: world without end. Amen. Alleluia [3]Glory be to Thee, O God. [3]Kyrie eleison. [3] Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
And the Priest [or Deacon] shall say the small litany
Again and again in peace let us pray unto the Lord.
CHOIR: Kyrie eleisonorLord have mercy.
Succour, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Thy grace.
Mindful of our most holy and undefiled, most blessed and glorious Lady, Mother of God and ever-Virgin Mary, and of all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God.
CHOIR: To Thee, O Lord.
PRIEST
For Thine is the might, and Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. Amen.
READER: Amen.
Now and for ever: world without end. Amen.
And the reader shall read the second stasis of the Kathisma: Psalms 124-128 [125-129]
PSALM 124 [125]
They that trust in the Lord shall be as MountZion; he that dwelleth inJerusalem shall never be moved. The mountains are round about her;so the Lord is round about His people, from henceforth even for ever.For the Lord shall not suffer the rod of the wicked to rest upon the lot ofthe righteous, lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity. Dogood, O Lord, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts. As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, theLord shall lead them away with the workers of iniquity. Peace be uponIsrael.
PSALM 125 [126]
When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that are comforted. Then was our mouth was filled with gladness, and ourtongue with joy. Then shall they say among the nations, The Lord hath done great things for them. The Lord hath done great things for us, and we are glad. Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. They went on andwept, as they cast their seed. But they shall come again with rejoicing,bringing their sheaves with them.
PSALM 126 [127]
Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: exceptthe Lord keep the city, he that keepeth it watcheth but in vain. It isvain for you to rise up early; ye rise up after resting, ye that eat the breadof sorrow, while He hath given his beloved sleep. Lo, children are anheritage of the Lord, the reward of the fruit of the womb. As arrows inthe hands of a mighty man, so are the children of the outcast. Blessedis the man that shall satisfy his desire with them; they shall not beashamed when they shall speak with their enemies in the gate.
PSALM 127 [128]
Blessed are all they that fear the Lord, that walk in His ways. Thoushalt eat the fruit of thy labours; blessed art thou, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thy house:thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, thus shallthe man be blessed that feareth the Lord. The Lord bless thee out ofZion, and mayest thou see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.And mayest thou see thy children's children. Peace be upon Israel.
PSALM 128 [129]
Many a time have they fought against me from my youth up, may Israel now say; many a time have they fought against me from my youth up;yet they have not prevailed against me. The sinners wrought upon myback, they prolonged their iniquity. The Lord is righteous; He hath cutasunder the necks of the wicked. Let them all be ashamed and turnedback that hate Zion. Let them be as the grass upon the housetops,which withereth afore it is uprooted. Wherewith the reaper filleth nothis hand, nor he that gathereth sheaves his bosom. Neither have theywhich go by said, The blessing of the Lord be upon you; we have blessedyou in the name of the Lord.
When the reader hath finished the second stasis of the Kathisma he shall say Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now, and for ever: world without end. Amen.
Alleluia [3]Glory be to Thee, O God. [3]Kyrie eleison. [3] Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
And the Priest[or Deacon] shall say the small litany
Again and again in peace, let us pray unto the Lord.
CHOIR: Kyrie eleisonorLord have mercy.
Succour, save, have mercy and preserve us, O God, by Thy grace.
Mindful of our most holy and undefiled, most blessed and glorious Lady, Mother of God and ever-Virgin Mary, and of all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God.
CHOIR: To Thee, O Lord.
PRIEST
For Thou, O God, art good and loving-kind, and to Thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. Amen.
READER: Amen.
Now and for ever: world without end. Amen.
And the reader shall read the third stasis of the Kathisma: Psalms 129-133 [130-134]
PSALM 129 [130]
Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice.Let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication. If Thou,Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? for there is forgiveness with Thee. For Thy name's sake have I waited for Thee, OLord; my soul hath waited for Thy word. My soul hath hoped in theLord. From the morning watch until night, from the morning watch, letIsrael hope in the Lord. For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption; and He shall redeem Israel from all hisiniquities.
PSALM 13O [131]
Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor are mine eyes lofty; neither have Iexercised myself in great matters, or in things too wonderful for me. If Ihad not been humble minded, but had exalted my soul, like a child thatis weaned from its mother, so wouldest Thou have requited my soul. LetIsrael hope in the Lord, from henceforth, and for ever.
PSALM 131 [132]
Lord, remember David and all his meekness; how he sware unto theLord, and vowed unto the God of Jacob: I will not go into the tabernacleof my house; I will not go up into the couch of my bed; I will not givesleep to mine eyes, nor slumber to mine eyelids, nor rest to my temples,until I find out a place for the Lord, an habitation for the God of Jacob.Behold, we heard it in Ephratha; we found it in the fields of the wood.Let us go into His tabernacles; let us worship at the place where His feet have stood. Arise, O Lord, into Thy rest; Thou, and the ark of Thine holiness. Thy priests shall be clothed with righteousness, and Thy just shall rejoice. For Thy servant David's sake turn not away Thy face from Thine anointed. The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David, and He willnot annul it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne, If thychildren will keep My covenant and these testimonies that I shall teachthem, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore. Forthe Lord hath chosen Zion, He hath chosen it for His habitation. Thisis my rest for ever and ever; here will I dwell, for I have chosen it. I willabundantly bless her provision, I will satisfy her poor with bread. I willclothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall rejoice with joy.There will I make to spring forth an horn for David; I have ordained alamp for Mine anointed. His enemies will I clothe with shame, butupon himself shall My holiness flourish.